Category: Shopping in the suqs of Marrakesh

A Designer’s Guide to Marrakech – shopping for modern design in Marrakech

Maison Lab – new modern store in Marrakech

I feel I know this man – his taste and ours coincide perfectly. Modern design in Marrakech is easily found in this design-rich city.

New York interior designer Martin Raffle recently opened his studio, MaisonLab, in the heart of the ancient medina. It is in Riad Laarouss, very close to Riad Sapphire and Spa. It brims with modern objects and furnishings – directly reflecting my belief that Marrakech is totally modern (and ancient).

I’m so enthusiastic about modern Marrakech design that not only our boutique riad hotel in Marrakech but also my own home is filled with finds from Marrakech – from leather rugs, to Bani Ourain rugs, kelims transformed into seating, handwoven fabrics for drapes, wool blankets, leather club chairs, berber cushion covers, metal cutwork lanterns, tassels, baskets for shopping and stylish storage, leather goods. You can also find local craftsmen to fashion what you envisage if you don’t find it in the market – like our leather-covered fan.

We are pleased to see yet another cooperative development melding Western design with Moroccan skills – with the aim to work together with a team of local Moroccan craftspeople designing quality goods in a contemporary way. Abury produces a range of trendy goods.

If you travel to Marrakech you can source these goods yourself either shopping in the local souks or going to the design district of Sidi Ghanem. But if you can’t get to Marrakech, then you can order these goods online.

Scènes de Lin is a well-established chic boutique in the new town of Guèliz in Marrakech – definitely worth making the effort to find. It’s on the Rue de la Liberté now re-named to Rue El Houria. It is located east off the main shopping street, Rue Mohamed V, where Carré Eden, the new apartment/shopping complex is located.

The clothing and home decorative items are designed with a distinct Moroccan flavor made to a very high standard, in terms of both manufacturing and design.

The designer, Anne-Marie Chaoui has been living in Marrakech since 2000 and brings with her a wealth of knowledge from her former career in the textile industry.

You can find all kinds of interior decorative items from fabrics, to sofas, to dishes, bathroom accessories, linens, clothing, caftans, tunics, even hats. All lovely designs – you’ll want to take home everything.

Get lost! in Marrakesh

To get lost in a foreign city is a fear that many of us have, but putting away the map can be just the thing for adventure. The souks of Marrakech are – we promise – a great place to get lost in.

So, what to expect?

Well, cast adrift in the maze of the medina, carts will trundle past you, laden with oranges and timber. You’ll see hawkers selling piles of eggs, fruit of all colours and fresh herbs. You’ll spot ancient weavers working at looms. The smell of delicious freshly baked ‘khoubz’ (bread) will waft over you.

You’ll pass brightly coloured apothecaries, where inside, hundreds of glass jars containing everything from pickled birds and crystals to ras el hanout and saffron will be for sale. You’ll be invited in for tea. You’ll have offers of guidance and you’ll certainly pass plenty of shady cafes to cool off in with a Casablanca beer or some mint tea.

See, doesn’t sound too bad does it? Chances are, after getting lost in the souks, you will return with a dozen travel tales, a handful of souvenirs and a camera full of photos.

This recent article on the Huffington Post website, inspired us to write this blog post, they agree that getting lost isn’t so bad!

We just have to tell you about Marrakech-based Algerian-French fashion designer Norya Nemiche, otherwise known as Ayron. Her collection, which includes abayas and coats, is beautifully colourful and exudes the exoticism of Marrakech. The kaftans made of delicate transparent muslin are perfect for lounging around the pool, or layered up for outside.

We especially admire her popular kari dress, which is a chic floor-length gown pulled in at the back to give it plenty of shape. These are special, one-off pieces that have been hand-made in the Medina.

You can see her work at Le Jardin where within the building she has her Pop-up Shop. Drawing celebrities like Sharon Stone, Maggie Gyllenhaal and the rapper Mos Def this is definitely one of the hottest shops around. Ayron has been in Marrakech for 12 years now, and her cooperation with local artisans and fabric designers is clear to see in the beautiful clothes she crafts. She does not have her own workshop, instead she prefers to work with other creative people in the medina. We admire her style and her work ethic!

As we know Marrakech is a veritable hot-bed of fashion and barely a week passes without another boutique opening. Equally, our shopping list is never-ending with yet more ‘must-buy’ items added all the time.

One of our long-time favourites, which we would like to share with you, is Hanout. According to their promotional material, Hanout “reflects the magic of the Orient in designer chic comfort” and we quite agree. ‘Hanout’ means store in Moroccan Arabic.

Founded by Meriem Rawlings the brand encapsulates the beauty of Moroccan traditional clothing such as Kaftans and Takchitta but with a modern accent.

Rawlings studied at London’s St Martins School of Fashion and is now based in Marrakech, working with dozens of talented artisans who work on embroidery, bead work and colour overlay.

We especially like the kilim boots, sequinned waistcoats and floaty dresses. We are not alone either. Famously, the singer-songwriter Natasha Atlas has also worn the clothes for an album photo-shoot and the Hanout label has been sold in London department store, Selfridges.

Hanout can be found at Sidi Abdelaziz (location hint: head to the popular Souk Cherifa and look for the store under the Terrasse des Epices). Take a taxi to Dar el Pacha and with the palace on your right, keep walking straight ahead. You’ll see some wicker lampshades and a sign Terrasse des Epices that will be on your right. The boutiques are on the first floor. Just be prepared to give your credit card a bruising!

Even if you’re in Marrakech just a few days, if you make your way to Adil Andaloussi’s place in Rue Riad Zitoun Jdid (New Olive Street), he can make you a genuine leather handbag using ancient techniques (as opposed to the machine-made ones in the souks).
Simple bags range from 200 dirhams and ones with more decoration or handwoven and sewn threads around the bag are from 300 dirhams and up.
Choukkara money bags traditionally used by Berber men are 500 dirhams. They are made from goat’s leather, which is thick and robust, but also very soft. The leather flap on the bag is decorated with handtooled leather designs or embroidered in delicate oriental designs with vibrantly-colored silk thread.

I can assure you that women would be equally happy having one over their shoulder.
You will see the different styles in his tiny retail space, clutch bags, pouch bags, evening bags …
So if you prefer not to wait, then you can choose from ready-mades ones on display.

You can also check out his website: http://www.tamaroc.com/
Best starting point to find his small store is from the Bahia Palace – with the Palace on your right, keep walking straight. This is the rue riad Zitoun Jdid. He’s number 58.

As one of the world’s best shopping destinations, it’s no wonder that Marrakech has jumped on the worldwide pop-up shop craze. One of the best to keep an eye on is the one held at the restaurant Le Jardin.

Pop Up Shop occasionally takes over the first floor of Le Jardin in Souk El Jeld and the next one is coming right up between the 30th of November to the 1st of December.

So, if you’re planning on picking up a designer leather bag or clutch with a difference (beaded tassels, snakeskin) or a unique kaftan style dress, you ought to pencil in the date right away! As well as ample style and inspiration there will also be books, food and homewares.

We recently found out about a small company called Al Nour who produce beautiful, hand-embroidery which has been created by disabled female artisans in Marrakech.

Al Nour is a social enterprise which, along with the retail arm, includes a day care centre and a professional training centre. By shopping at Al Nour your dirhams go directly towards helping to support these hard-working artisan women.

You can shop online too for these hand embroidered textiles which are made from 100% natural fibres in either linen, cotton, wool, pashmina or silk. The designs are beautifully simple and we particularly like the children’s travel pouch, the collection for babies and the traditional hammam-style towels. Best of all, the home textiles can be made to measure.

Recognisable from their stylish camel branding, Sissimorocco are well known to style aficionados in Morocco and worldwide.

With products that expertly capture the atmosphere of Morocco, their cushions, lampshades, curtains, dishes often feature subtle Moroccan themes from palm trees and donkeys to oriental headdresses. Colours tend to either be the bright, sun-soaked colours we all associate with the souks of Marrakech, orange, red, purple or else brownish sepia tints that perfectly evoke old faded postcards.

It’s not all household goods though, but also accessories including pouches, bags, slippers, tunics and hand embroidered shawls. Many of the pieces are unique and have been crafted using traditional Moroccan artistry. An excellent souvenir or gift, or dare we say it – Christmas present!

The shop is open every day except Tuesday, from 10.30am to 7pm, Souk Cherifia. sissimorocco.com/en